Assessing and Intervening with Children with Brain Tumors

Pediatric brain tumors typically have lifelong effects, and children often fall further behind their age peers over time, needing more supports and intervention with time. This chapter provides a practical neurobiological framework to understand how neuropsychological processes are damaged by tumors and treatments, how the timing of intervention alters long‐term effects, and how to intervene from a broader systems perspective. It begins with how tumors develop, how they are grouped and graded, and why they determine treatment with surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, or a combination of these methods. Each tumor grade poses its own constellations of psychological challenges. One of the most underutilized resources for families and patients is hospice, which is sometimes avoided as though allowing hospice services means giving up or is ghoulish. In a multi‐problem situation, once safety has been established, social interventions may need to be placed ahead of academic goals.